How Toys Impact Children's Development
Children Learn Quickly: a Short Lesson in Neuroplasticity Children are extremely fast learners. For newborns, the world is a flood of information and they absorb it like a sponge.
What media teach kids about gender can have lasting effects, report says
It's not just one movie. It's not just one TV show. It's constant exposure to the same dated concepts in the media over and over, starting before preschool and lasting a lifetime -- concepts like: Boys are smarter than girls; certain jobs are best for men and others for women; and even that girls are responsible for their own sexual assaults. According to the report, which analyzed more than 150 articles, interviews, books, and other social-scientific research, gender stereotypes in movies and on TV shows are more than persistent; they're incredibly effective at teaching kids what the culture expects of boys and girls. What makes these messages stick -- and harder for parents to counteract -- is that they're timed for the precise moment in kids' development when they're most receptive to their influence.
Children, Television and Gender Roles
A critical review of the available evidence concerning what influence television may have on the development of children's understanding of gender roles and of their own gender identity The society in which we live plays an enormous role in shaping the attitudes and behaviour of all those who are a part of it. Humans, as social beings, are constantly being bombarded with information from the environment which can influence the way we perceive the world and also shape our attitudes and beliefs, gradually moulding each and everyone of us into an 'accepted' member of society. In the past these influences which dictate how we should behave in a 'normal' society have emanated from sources such as the community, family and school. However, in today's world, the influences these institutions have seem to be declining as our changing society adapts to a more technological age.
Gender stereotypes in mass media. Case study: Analysis of the gender stereotyping phenomenon in TV commercials.
Mass media play a significant role in a modern world, by broadcasting information in fast pace and giving entertainment to vast audiences. They consist of press, television, radio, books and the Internet. The latter is now the most developing medium, however, TV also has a wide field of influence.
How to Teach Kids about Gender Differences and Equality
Are you the type of parent that would get their son a doll and/or give their daughter a truck? If so, I’m guessing you gave already considered the importance of raising the next generation to respect gender differences and value equality. As much as I have tried to nurture certain traditionally “feminine” qualities in my sons such as tolerance and compassion (and given them permission to a full expression of emotions that are often discouraged in boys yet encouraged in girls), I have also tried to allow my daugther access to what may be seen as “boyish” activities like mud stomping and block building. However I also think that if a boy likes trucks and a girl likes dolls, that’s absolutely fine too!
4.3.1 Distinction between ‘Sex’ and ‘Gender’
The terms ‘sex' and ‘gender' are closely linked, yet they are not synonyms. Robert Stoller, in the 1960s, has drawn the distinction between them. He suggested that the word ‘sex' be used to refer to the physical differences between men and women, while the term ‘gender' be used in connection to the behaviour and cultural practices of men and women.
Why boys should play with dolls - The Boston Globe
As Black Friday deals approach, I’ve been spending time thinking about my 7-year-old’s Christmas wish list. Thankfully, it’s short and sweet: a Beanie Boo, a Hess truck, Star Wars LEGOs, a LeapPad, a baby doll. The fact that this is a boy’s list might spark some surprise, since it includes a classic “girl” toy, a baby doll to nurture. But today we’re on the cusp of a new children’s culture in which delineations between so-called girls’ and boys’ toys — between dolls and diesel trucks — won’t exist. My son spends equal time playing with boys and girls and delights in playing house and video games alike. “Toys are for everybody,” he insists with admirable stubbornness.
Gender Equality in the Media: The New Social Movement
Artwork by Jessica Bishop; Infographics by Erin Ford “The media is the message and the messenger, and increasingly a powerful one,” says Patricia Mitchell, the former president and CEO of PBS [4]. By the age of 10, a young girl will watch an average of 31 hours of television a week [1] and join other women around the country in comprising 52% of the movie-going population [5]. Unfortunately, the media’s influence on young women has yielded many negative consequences. The media has been associated with causing young girls to have poor body images, exposing them to limited career options, and accepting inferior status to men.
10 Ways to Avoid Gender Stereotyping in Children
Last week, while walking to my son's preschool, we saw two rabbits in a field. We cooed and oohed and ahhed and giggled at just how frickin' cute they were for a few moments, when I thought I'd better seize the opportunity for some counting practice. "Can you count how many rabbits you can see on the grass?"
About gender equality and UNICEF
UNICEF’s mission is to advocate for the protection of children’s rights, to help meet their basic needs and to expand their opportunities to reach their full potential. UNICEF aims, through its country programmes, to promote the equal rights of girls and women and to support their full participation in the social, political and economic development of their communities. UNICEF recognizes the human rights principles of equality and non-discrimination as central to the consideration of gender equality and believes that gender-based discrimination is one of the most ubiquitous forms of discrimination that children face. The importance of integration of gender in humanitarian programming to ensure an effective response is reflected in UNICEF’s policies and guidance for humanitarian action. The Core Commitments for Children in Emergencies (CCCs) guides the work of UNICEF in its humanitarian response.
Avoiding Gender Stereotypes
How Kids Understand Gender When my daughter Rachel was 4, she decided she would wear only dresses to preschool. Before long, her favorite activity became polishing her nails and applying pretend lipstick. As a proud feminist, I was flabbergasted. Where, I wondered, was this behavior coming from? As it turns out, Rachel was acting on a host of messages -- some subtle, some not so subtle -- that she'd been receiving since birth.
Mom, Dad Parenting Gender Stereotypes Raising Children
According to the Williams Institute, which conducts research on sexual orientation and gender identity law and public policy at UCLA, an estimated 111,000 same-gender couples are raising biological, step, or adoptive children in the United States. Individuals in same-gender relationships are often assigned the roles of “mom” and “dad” by society based on who is perceived as the more feminine and more masculine partner, according to a sex and gender study about the division of household labor. As well, lesbian couples are often stereotyped as having a “man” in the relationship.
